Chapter 89: Setting Traps Within Traps!

Yoichi's appearance exceeded everyone's expectations, including Rin, who had never anticipated him showing up in this place.

"Is this guy... using me as bait?"

In the instant Rin saw Yoichi preparing to take a shot, he finally understood the other's intention.

He wasn't just serving as his own bait earlier. Yoichi believed that Kira could defend against his shot, which is why he acted accordingly.

"This guy!"

Rin's dissatisfaction burned intensely within him.

Meanwhile, Yoichi's foot was about to make contact with the football!

But there was someone faster.

"How boring."

Sae had already arrived!

"What?!"

Yoichi stared in disbelief, looking at his side.

He couldn't understand why Sae would appear here.

"Why? Why was he here when he wasn't here before? What's the reason?"

"Did he see through my actions? Or does he also know that Kira can defend against this shot?"

"Or maybe, both?"

Yoichi's mind was filled with confusion. He had no idea how Sae managed it, but this time his shot was completely thwarted. Sae successfully intercepted the ball, cleared it out of bounds, and destroyed this offensive play.

"How did you manage to do it?"

Yoichi looked at Sae in shock.

However, Sae didn't say a word. He didn't even glance at Yoichi and simply left the area.

"Sae is really strong... He utilized my blind spot, which is why I didn't initially notice his presence."

"But how exactly did he manage to do that?"

"During our previous offensive play, Sae's pass to Kira was the same. He seems to effortlessly perceive the movements of everyone on the field, as if he can see through them..."

Yoichi's mind raced rapidly.

On the other side, the U-20 team members, including Oliver, approached Sae and prepared to exchange high-five with him.

"Great clearance, genius!"

However, Sae ignored their hands and walked straight past them, casting a disdainful glance at the group with his peripheral vision.

"It's because you useless bunch can't be of any use that we have to clean up after you."

By 'we,' he referred to himself and Kira.

"Because of your defensive flaws, Kira had to provide coverage for you. And because of your incompetence, I have to step in and clear the way for you. Whether it's forwards or defenders, your entire team is utterly useless."

Sae mercilessly mocked the others.

Shuto was about to retort, but Oliver held him back and smiled, saying, "We understand, genius. We'll work hard."

Sae didn't say much, he simply returned to his position.

On the other side, Kira smiled as he looked at Yoichi. The other's growth had exceeded his expectations.

Kira knew that Yoichi had seen through his recent actions. Despite lacking exceptional skills and physical abilities, Yoichi possessed unparalleled football intelligence. He excelled at setting up strategic plays on the field, luring others into traps.

In this aspect, he even surpassed Rin.

"It's turning out to be an interesting match indeed," Kira mutteredto himself, his gaze becoming more focused.

Yoichi's ability to strategize and control the entire field was something Kira lacked. His greatest advantage lay in his own formidable individual skills.

However, no matter how they strategized, Kira would shatter their plans with his actions.

.....

"What a shame!"

"If it weren't for Sae, Yoichi would have scored! The score could have been equalized! It was so close!"

"Not even close, useless."

However, Ego ruthlessly dismissed Anri's words and even mocked her.

"Useless?"

"From start to finish, there was no chance for Yoichi to score. Sae saw through his every move. The idea of him taking a shot was a false proposition to begin with. Sae would have definitely thwarted his attempt even without him, Yoichi would have only gotten one shot opportunity. With Kira's speed and reflexes, do you think he wouldn't be able to defend a second time?"

Ego pushed his glasses up and spoke slowly.

Upon hearing his words, Anri didn't know what to say.

She knew that Ego's words were not wrong.

"It's not enough. We need even greater pressure, the kind of pressure that suffocates them, to bring them to their breaking point."

.....

On the field, the Blue lock team took a throw-in and resumed their offensive organization.

Having missed the opportunity for a quick counterattack, they faced the solid defense of the U-20 team and found it difficult to break through. They could only keep passing the ball, searching for attacking opportunities.

However, Oliver accurately found a gap in their passing and successfully intercepted the ball!

With a long and precise pass, he delivered it to the feet of Sae in the midfield.

The U-20 team's counterattack began once again!

"Damn it!"

Even before Sae touched the ball, Rin had already arrived.

His eyes were filled with determination. This was the revenge moment Rin had been waiting for.

His chance to prove himself against Sae!

But unlike Rin, who had an intensely serious and combative expression, Sae's expression remained unchanged, as if Rin was no different from anyone else.

Rin immediately pressed forward, aiming to make the interception. However, Sae skillfully used his arm to block and protect the ball, then leaned against Rin's body to turn around.

But Rin was equally fast. He anticipated Sae's turn and quickly turned in the opposite direction, blocking Sae's path.

"I won't let you pass!"

Rin said with utmost seriousness.

"If that's all, you'll never surpass me."

Sae said calmly.

It was only at this moment that Rin suddenly realized that the football at Sae's feet had long disappeared, accurately passed to Kira.

In the instant he turned around, Sae had completed the pass!

For Rin, this was an incredibly important one-on-one encounter.

But for Sae, it was an unnecessary struggle.

On the field, he only needed to make the best decisions.

And the fact that he made the pass unnoticed by Rin already demonstrated the absolute gap in their abilities.

Rin was not yet qualified to be compared to Sae.

The moment Kira received the ball, he accelerated further and sprinted towards the opponent's goal!

"Damn it! Fool, don't think you can get past!"

Tabito immediately pressed forward, blocking Kira's path.

On the other side, Jyubei also closed in for a double team.

However, Kira didn't slow down at all. Instead, he turned around, preparing to break through from another direction.

At the moment Tabito and Jyubei shifted their weight, Kira suddenly unleashed a Thunderclap Flash move. He forcefully pushed off the ground with his left foot, executing a rapid change of direction!

The movement seemed simple, but the sudden change in rhythm effortlessly disrupted Tabito's balance, allowing Kira to easily bypass him.

However, Jyubei forcefully maintained his balance and continued to block Kira's path.

However, this level of defense was like a mere illusion to Kira.

Rice Spirit!

Kira flicked the ball with his right foot, using his left foot as the pivot to spin clockwise around Jyubei. Just as Jyubei retreated to defend, Kira changed direction once again, spinning in the opposite direction and creating distance between them!

With his outstanding individual skills, Kira had successfully bypassed two players and continued to advance.

"Don't think you can get past!"

A streak of blazing red dashed by, and Hyoma appeared right beside Kira.

He had just burst forth at full speed, taking the shortest path to directly intercept him!

"This time, I will definitely surpass you!"

Hyoma's flowing red hair was like burning flames, reflecting the intensity in his heart at this moment.

In order to double-team Kira, Hyoma had put forth everything he had. He didn't even consider the distribution of his stamina afterward; he only wanted to defend in this instant!

No matter the cost!

On the other side, Tabito and Jyubei, who had just been bypassed, were now closing in on Kira at the fastest speed.

At this moment, Kira found himself surrounded!

However, Kira didn't panic at all. Instead, he suddenly lifted his foot and kicked the ball away.

Thunder Swarm!

"This... is a pass!?"

The ball passed by Kira in an incredibly mysterious arc, slipping through the gap between the three defenders as if it had a soul of its own!

The target of this pass was none other than Sae!

"Since you've mentioned it, let me see it for myself, let's see what you're capable of."

Sae effortlessly controlled the ball, but instead of dribbling too much, he quickly passed it again.

From start to finish, his focus wasn't on Kira, yet he seemed to have an uncanny awareness of his position.

This pass was extremely far from Kira, and the trajectory was very high. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like a forced pass.

"I, intercept!"

Jyubei's reaction was extremely swift. He attempted to block Kira's position with one hand while taking quick steps forward. He leaped high, intending to use his height and jumping advantage to make a steal!

However, when Jyubei jumped up, he found that the ball flew just centimeters above his head, like bait.

This was a trap set specifically for Jyubei by Sae. The ambiguous arc of the ball created an illusion that Jyubei could make a clean steal when in reality, it was just out of his reach.

As long as Jyubei jumped, he would be out of position in that instant!

Everything was under Sae's control!

Kira knew Sae's tactics. Instead of trying to compete for a header with Jyubei, he continued his sprint and surpassed him.

The intended landing spot of Sae's pass was ahead.

And there was another figure standing in front of Kira.

Niko Ikki!

Ikki judged the trajectory of the ball and anticipated that it would pass in front of Jyubei. So he stationed himself there in advance.

"The ball will land between me and Kira! I have a chance to snatch it!"

Ikki thought so, but immediately denied the idea.

"No, this is a trap! Sae not only set a trap for Jyubei but also for me? Although the ball will land between us, and I may even be a bit closer, I can never match Kira's physical abilities. He will definitely gain possession first. If I go forward to press, I will definitely be out of position, and all the defense will crumble! But if I don't go forward, and let Kira get the ball, it's impossible for me to defend him one-on-one with my individual abilities!"

Ikki's mind raced while his body was already in motion, rushing towards the ball!

Even if it's a trap, he must brace himself and go for it now.

It was the only chance!

As expected, Kira was faster. He touched the ball first!

But this was the opportunity Ikki had been waiting for!

He was waiting for the moment when Kira stopped the ball.

No matter how skilled Kira was, he couldn't perform a ball stop like Nagi!

Kira needed time to stop the ball, and that was the perfect moment for Ikki to make a steal!

Suddenly, in mid-air, Ikki turned around, and his right leg, like a venomous snake sensing its prey, swiftly stabbed toward the ball on Kira's foot!